If it looks like a Patrick O'Hearn album and sounds like a Patrick O'Hearn album, it must be...David Helpling. The O'Hearn influence is ever-present on Helpling's beautifully produced debut album, from the dark Indigo hues... more &raquo of the album cover to the warm synthesizer textures and percussive rhythmic throb. And although it is blindfold-test close to O'Hearn, it is nevertheless a compelling debut. Helpling cranks up dramatic rhythms on "Stormchaser," and brings an Asian feel to the hypnotic grooves of "Share the Secret." Helpling has a unique melodic sensibility that will carry him into new territory. The signs are already there on this evocative and remarkably consistent album. --John Diliberto&laquo less

Synopsis

Amazon.com

If it looks like a Patrick O'Hearn album and sounds like a Patrick O'Hearn album, it must be...David Helpling. The O'Hearn influence is ever-present on Helpling's beautifully produced debut album, from the dark Indigo hues of the album cover to the warm synthesizer textures and percussive rhythmic throb. And although it is blindfold-test close to O'Hearn, it is nevertheless a compelling debut. Helpling cranks up dramatic rhythms on "Stormchaser," and brings an Asian feel to the hypnotic grooves of "Share the Secret." Helpling has a unique melodic sensibility that will carry him into new territory. The signs are already there on this evocative and remarkably consistent album. --John Diliberto

CD Reviews

If you didn't see the credits, you would think it's O'Hearn!

08/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since Patrick O'Hearn has not released anything since "Metaphor", "Between Green and Blue" fills the gap as the next best thing. In fact, this debut album by David Helpling is about as good as anything that O'Hearn has ever done. The same brilliance of mood is accomplished, ranging from ominous and unsettling ("Stormchaser") to ultimately peaceful ("End of An Era") with many interesting sonic stops in between. Dreamy synthscapes paint an ambient landscape while the percussion, bass and guitar leave you not far from progressive rock territory. The mastering of this recording is about as good as it gets - your higher end stereo will love it. And, the cover art is appropriately mysterious in line with the title. When I play this album for people that I know, they inevitably love it."

Remarkable debut

Robert Carlberg | Seattle | 06/13/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Helpling's debut is remarkably accomplished and mature, sounding very much like a missing Patrick O'Hearn album. Using soft-focus digital synthesizers and exotic percussion, "Between Green and Blue" drifts along in beautiful 3-dimensional suites of depth and grandeur."

Between Green and Blue is a turquoise beauty!

Distant Voyageur | Io | 10/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This debut album from New Age musician David Helpling is a really beautiful album and a wonderful hidden gem. The album cover perfectly showcases the mood of this album: Moody and mysterious yet very much at the same time, calming and peaceful.

Patrick O'Hearn fans will certainly enjoy this CD a lot because it borrows a lot of the styles of what Patrick O'Hearn composed and recorded during the 1980s. The most O'Hearn inspired tracks are the beautiful opener "Stormchaser" with it's stormy melody and exotic rhythm, the eerie "Alone At the Shore", "Wild Things" and "The Blue Sun" which almost sounds like something that could've come from O'Hearn's 1986 album "Between Two Worlds".

However other songs also have a distinguishable style with "Emeralds" being such a beautiful and heavily rhythmic beat, hauntingly beautiful melody, and a really cool chord change during the middle of the song.

While this album might have been slightly clouded by being a little too much like copying O'Hearn's 1980s style music, "Between Green and Blue" is a fabulous debut album from Helpling and I highly recommend purchasing a copy of this wonderful album."

The most wonderful sound to fill your ears!

Kevin Maltby | Somewhere in the USA | 04/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After buying this from Amazon, I promptly popped it into my CD player and played the entire thing. Anyone who reads this needs to listen to 2 songs (among all the rest!) a few times, and the sound from both will fill your ears and mind with pure, wonderul, joyful and enspiring music. Those 2 songs are "Worlds" and "Emerald". Buy it folks!!!!!! It's a keeper. Thanks to David Helpling for a 10 star CD."

As good as Patrick O'Hearn

Trace Moriarty | Austin, TX | 12/18/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're a fan of Patrick O'Hearn's sound, I think you'll be pleased with this album that might fall somewhere between "Between Two Worlds" and "Metaphor" of O'Hearn's. It's relaxing, but cheery -- excellent for solid listening or background ambiance.I bought this album based on Amazon.com recommendations, and I was VERY pleased with it. I'll be looking for more of Helpling's material."